Bone Densitometry Guidelines

Doctors use bone densitometry, also called a bone density test, to determine your risk of osteoporosis and bone fracture. Using X-rays on a given bone segment, the test measures how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are present in that segment. According to the Mayo Clinic, bone densitometry does a good job of predicting your risk of fracture. Guidelines for receiving bone densitometry vary.

U.S. Preventive Services Guidelines

• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends routine bone densitometry for women age 65 and older. If a woman is at high risk for osteoporosis, the recommendation is for screening to begin at age 60. High-risk factors include a small, thin build, family history, low calcium or vitamin D intake, smoking and drinking excessive alcohol.

Additional Guidelines

• In addition to the Task Force guidelines, the National Osteoporosis Foundation notes that your health care provider may recommend bone densitometry if you are a woman going through menopause and have certain risk factors, a postmenopausal woman under age 65 with one or more osteoporosis risk factors, a postmenopausal woman who has stopped taking estrogen or hormone therapy, a man age 50 to 70 with one or more osteoporosis risk factors or a man age 70 or older without risk factors, or a woman or man older than age 50 who has broken a bone.

Other Reasons for the Test

• Other reasons your health care provider may recommend bone densitometry include long-term use of certain medications that can affect bone density, if you are receiving certain treatments for prostate cancer or breast cancer, overactive thyroid gland or overactive parathyroid gland, significant loss of height or having a medical condition that can cause bone loss.